Franco Fascism Analysis

Fascism can be defined as a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppression opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry commerce and emphasising an aggressive nationalism and often racism (Idaho). Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain for over 36 years which was made possible by the Spanish Civil War. Even though he had some of the characteristics of a fascist he was not a true fascist. He was a pragmatist, nationalist and anti-communist who did not desire the expansion of War. In order to be a fascist leader you need to have three vital characteristics; an organized political party, a direct ideology and a movement that develops organically. These aspects were not present in Spain under Franco.
The war was between the left democratic Republicans who were liberal, socialist, internationalist, democratic and anti-Fascist, and the right Nationalist who were known as, conservative, religious, and anti-democratic led by Francisco Franco. It began when Francisco Franco and the Spanish army in Morocco stood up against Manuel Azana and his democratic republican government. The right wing groups campaigned in Spain, and the army officers led most of their forces into the Nationalist camp. Franco and his Nationalists forces overthrew the democratically elected Second Republic, with the help of Germany and Italy. This resulted in Franco rising to power and Franco adopted the title of “El Caudillo”, the leader. According to his coins, Franco ruled Spain as "Caudillo by the grace of God” (Eric Stolsen). Franco known to be a fierce and at times violent leader was known to torture political opponents, inhibited the culture and language of Spain’s Basque and Catalan regions, monitored the media and otherwise exerted absolute control over the country. As Franco got older his boundaries gradually lessened and eventually after his death Spain became a
Like other civil wars, the Spanish Civil War often pitted family members and trusted neighbours and friends against each other. Apart from the soldiers, many civilians were killed for their political or religious views by both sides, and after the war ended in 1939, Republicans were at times persecuted by the victorious Nationalists. Since Spanish government was in disarray during its civil war so Hitler and Mussolini saw this as an opportunity to help and get the Fascist and Nazi ideals into the Spanish government. However, Franco himself was not a Fascist he was just accepting the help him and his government required. This resulted in strengthening the war because Hitler's move into Spain revealed rebel forces trying to remove the Spanish officials, such as the King and his government officials but the rebel movement never gained enough popularity at the time. In 1936 the military hoped to capture Spain quickly but they failed, and nearly half of the army remained loyal to the government and the rebellion failed in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and the Basque country which resulted in workers and peasant soldiers were formed to defend the government. Nevertheless, in the beginning of 1939 the Republic collapsed and the Nationalists occupied Barcelona and in a few months